A BUS service from Oxford city centre to the Kassam Stadium is once again ferrying football fans to games – a year after a similar service was axed.

The former 601 football special service was dropped by Oxford United after it lost £2,500 in the 2007-8 season.

But Thames Travel has now added the stadium, in Grenoble Road, to its list of stops on its No 106 route, which starts at Oxford railway station.

For Saturday home games, U’s fans can now catch the bus at the station at 1.30pm; in High Street at 1.38pm; at the George pub, in Littlemore, at 1.50pm and the Catherine Wheel in Sandford at 1.53pm before being dropped off at the ground at 1.58pm.

An identical service also runs exactly an hour earlier. Buses for the return journey leave the stadium at 5pm and 6pm.

A similar route also runs from the city centre for Tuesday evening games, but no return buses are available after the final whistle.

Club spokesman Chris Williams said: “This is another great way for supporters to get to matches. Crowds are rising all the time and we want everyone to be able to get here easily, enjoy the match and to get behind their local football club."

As we reported last month, Dennis Thompson, a 77-year-old season-ticket holder who has watched the team since 1945, had been left struggling to get to games due to his poor mobility and the cancellation of the 601.

The Donnington resident – who thanks to an Oxford Mail appeal now gets a lift to and from matches – said: “I think it’s a very good idea and I think it will increase the crowds.

“For the Luton game they could have done with a whole fleet of buses, as we were still in the car park at about 11pm.”

Mark Sennett, of supporters’ trust OxVox, said: “Anything that makes it easier to get to games is a good thing, and this will certainly help fans, both home and away, who travel down by train.”